“When you’re little and someone asks you what you want to be when you grow up, everyone always says that they want to be a doctor or go into some common career, but I always wanted to be a journalist.”
Currently working as a reporter with eTV News, Nabeelah Shaikh has been in the media industry for eight years. Fascinated by newsreaders on radio and television when she was a little girl, Shaikh pursued her passions and studied journalism at the Durban University of Technology (DUT), after which she developed an interest in investigative journalism.
“You must develop a thick skin when working in the field of journalism,” said Shaikh. “A lot of things can get thrown your way and you need to find a way to deal with them.”When starting off as a journalist, it is incredibly important to earn the trust of people,” Shaikh explained.
“This takes time but proves to be immensely rewarding in the end. Journalism is incredibly dynamic, and in order to flourish, you must be adaptable and go with the times. Video journalism speaks to the dynamism of the field – today journalists can go out and report directly from the field, all alone and using only their cellphones.”
“Exclusivity is fading away,” said Shaikh as she commented on the growing reliance journalists have upon each other.
Journalists must, at all times, pursue objectivity. Shaikh advised budding journalists to not be afraid and follow their passions. Broadcasting is a noble profession and should be pursued by all who are striving to be a voice for the voiceless.
Watch the full interview here:
The #TributeToMuslimBroadcastersSA segment on Salaamedia is an exclusive Ramadan broadcast on our platform, inspired by the life and times of the late Ebrahim Gangat who was known for his broadcasting talent.
